UFC on FOX 9’s Biggest Losers: What’s Next?

Roger Bowling (11-5 / Lost via TKO to Abel Trujillo)

Bowling is a gutsy fighter but he lacks the technique necessary for success at the sport’s highest level. There isn’t a lot Bowling has to offer outside of above average power and mediocre wrestling, so success is dictated on how well-rounded his foes are rather than the skills he brings into the cage. His loss to Trujillo marked his third straight stumble and second consecutive knockout. Expect the UFC to cut him and a company like WSOF or RFA to bring him on board (but not Bellator). (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Cody McKenzie (14-4 / Lost via Unanimous Decision to Sam Stout)

McKenzie’s loss to Stout wasn’t nearly as bad as him forgetting to bring his trunks or leaving the price-tag on his replacement gear. Regardless, he has a losing record in the Octagon with his wins coming against opponents who are no longer part of the promotion. McKenzie will probably get one more shot based on personality and his patented approach to the Guillotine Choke, though a release wouldn’t be shocking either given the lack of growth he’s shown since coming on board three years ago. Mike Brown or Steven Siler would be suitable draws for his next duel as fighters with some notoreity who are also in a similar position as far as having fallen in their previous pairings. (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Scott Jorgensen (14-8 / Lost via Unanimous Decision to Zach Makovsky)

Fans expected a lot from Jorgensen after he dropped down to flyweight, but instead of living up to their hype he fell to a fighter who was three weeks removed from a regional rumble and took the bout on short notice. Granted, Makovsky is good, but there’s no question Jorgensen was the favorite to win. He’ll be back in the Octagon without a doubt and has enough clout to be handed a big name like Darren Uyenoyama or even Joseph Benavidez, both of whom also lost at UFC on FOX 9. (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Pat Healy (29-18 / Lost via Unanimous Decision to Bobby Green)

Healy has had a rough year career-wise. He started things off brilliantly with a submission win over Jim Miller netting a six-figure bonus only to see the victory ruled a No Contest based on a failed drug test for marijuana use. Healy has since fallen in back-to-back bouts and could be at risk of release. Fortunately, he should avoid the proverbial axe based on the performance against Miller and having been competitive in each of his failed attempts at procuring a victory in the Octagon. He’s a seasoned veteran so the UFC doesn’t need to handle him with kiddie gloves. As such, expect Healy’s next foe to be a familiar face like Jorge Masvidal, Danny Castillo, or Joe Lauzon. All pose interesting challenges for Healy, could use the rub from potentially beating him, and have nothing else planned for the immediate future. (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Mac Danzig (21-12-1 / Lost via Unanimous Decision to Joe Lauzon)

Though Danzig has come up short in a trio of tilts there’s a good chance he’ll get one final crack in the Octagon before being released based on his status as an Ultimate Fighter winner and the controversy surrounding his stumble to Takanori Gomi. He also showed a lot of heart against Lauzon, holding on till the bitter end when a number of his peers would have ended up with a submission loss. Some possibilities for his next fight in relation to availability, name value, and similar divisional standing are Sam Stout or George Sotiropoulos. Gray Maynard might also be worth considering, but given Lauzon’s success on the takedown front it would probably be an ugly affair. (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Michael McDonald (16-3 / Lost via Submission to Urijah Faber)

McDonald’s loss to Faber was a case of “little brother” thinking he’d grown to the point of being able to beat “big brother” only to find out his elder was still superior. However, at 22 years old he still has a lot of time to grow and is packed with potential so there’s no reason for “Mayday” to sound the alarm. A match-up with the winner of January’s bout between T.J. Dillashaw-Mike Easton would be an excellent option for his next in-ring effort or possibly Ivan Menjivar if the UFC is interested in giving him an easier road to victory. (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Joseph Benavidez (19-4 / Lost via Knockout to Demetrious Johnson)

Obviously the manner in which Benavidez went down to Johnson was an eye-opener considering he’d never been finished before and was put away before the midway point of the fight’s first frame. However, fighters get caught. It happened to Georges St-Pierre, it happened to Cain Velasquez. As such, there’s no reason to be worried about Benavidez’s future prospects, because chances are good he’ll learn from the loss and come back better than before rather than crumble from the KO. There aren’t many flyweights on the roster, so someone like Scott Jorgensen could come into play if not Zach Makovsky. However, I’d rather see him throw down with John Dodson as a means of either immediately re-establishing his brand or giving “The Magician” the momentum he needs to challenge Johnson again after their spirited scrap in January. (PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

In general it’s likely every UFC event will produce and equal number of winners/losers based on the nature of Mixed Martial Arts. However, in some cases the outcomes are more notable than others, and UFC on FOX 9 was no different in that regard. The lineup featured some significant stumbles for the involved athletes based on either the manner in which action went down or the impact of the loss on future prospects. Here’s a look at some of the show’s biggest losers and what might be coming down the road for them…